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<br />OQ1533 <br /> <br />PROJECT TITLE: <br /> <br />Water Resources of" El Paso County (fig. III <br /> <br />COOPERATING AGENCIES: <br /> <br />City of Colorado Springs, Department of Publ ic Utilities; <br />City of Colorado Springs, Office of the City Manager; <br />El Paso County Board of Commissioners; Pikes Peak Area <br />Council of Governments; and the U.S. Air Force Academy <br /> <br />PROJECT CHIEF: <br /> <br />Jerry L. Hughes, Subdistrict Office, Pueblo <br /> <br />PERIOD OF PROJECT: <br /> <br />July 1972 to December 1984 <br /> <br />Problem.--EI Paso County, which includes the city of Colorado Springs, is one <br />of the most rapidly growing urban areas in the State. Knowledge of the water re- <br />sources of the county is needed by State and local officials to adequately plan <br />for future development. <br /> <br />Objectives.--Determine the occurrence and availability of ground water, in- <br />cluding depth to water and yield of aquifers. Document current ground-water de- <br />velopment, annual ground-water withdrawal, and the effects of current development. <br />In conjunction with the county planning director, who will provide estimates of <br />rate and location of future population increases, predict future ground-water de- <br />velopment and identify and describe the effects of this anticipated development. <br />Estimate the mean annual flow and the 2-, 5-, 10-, and 50-year peak discharges of <br />streams draining the mountainous part of the county. Determine the water qual ity <br />of streams and aquifers. Synthesize these data so that the feasibility of water <br />projects can be readily determined. <br /> <br />Approach.--Make an inventory of all wells yielding more than 100 gallons per <br />minute. Establ ish a network of observation wells. Determine streamflow charac- <br />teristics using channel geometry and other techniques. Determine stream qual ity <br />using on-site measurements of selected constituents and parameters that indicate <br />the relative quality of the water. Collect samples of ground water for chemical <br />analysis. Develop a computer model of the Dawson aquifer, which is the principal <br />source of water in the northern half of the county. <br /> <br />Progress.--Data currently are <br />bil ity of the computer model. <br />streams. <br /> <br />being collected to improve the predictive capa- <br />Gain-loss studies have been conducted on two <br /> <br />Plans.--Continue to collect selected hydrologic data to improve the predic- <br />tive capability of the computer model. Place the data in computer storage and <br />evaluate the long- and short-term'trends in ground-water levels and water-quality <br />conditions. Expand project to define urban impacts on quantity and quality of <br />streamflow in Fountain Creek below Colorado Springs and on ground water in the <br />Widefield aquifer adjacent to the creek. <br /> <br />43 <br />